Assessment of Readiness to Provide Care for the Pregnant Trauma Patient

Cullinan, Elizabeth Grube

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Elizabeth Grube Cullinan, BSN, RNC
Family Centered Maternity Unit, Paoli Hospital, Paoli, PA
Barbara Kurtz, MSN, RNC
IN

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand their role of an obstetric nurse as a member of the trauma team.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able utilize the monitoring equipment in the obstetrical trauma cart.

INTRODUCTION: Paoli Hospital, a 256 bed community hospital which is part of the Main Line Health System, achieved accreditation as a Level 2 Trauma Center in October of 2010. This new trauma program offered an opportunity for a stronger intradepartmental care management and coordination created of the pregnant trauma patient(s): mother and baby in Emergency Department (ED) and across the continuum of care.

PURPOSE/GOAL: To develop an advanced program to assess current knowledge and educate the Obstetrical (OB) and ED nursing staffs to improve the coordination and management of care in the ED of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

PARTICIPANTS: The OB nursing staff participated in the initial educational program. This group was selected because their expert knowledge and experience would be needed for the care of the trauma patient in the unfamiliar environment of the Emergency Department.

PROCESS: An assessment of the level of knowledge was conducted based on a literature review, benchmarking and consultation with internal and external experts. A pre- survey was carried out to determine readiness with face validity established prior to the administration of the tool. Educational programs (17 classes) were offered and a post survey completed.

RESULTS: Data from the pre-survey revealed a lack of knowledge about role expectations in the care of the pregnant trauma patient. Post survey results reflected an increase of knowledge and understanding of their role expectations.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Continued partnership between OB and ED staff is critical to the safety, quality and coordination of care for this special population at Paoli Hospital. Future planning will include education with the ED staff followed by grand rounds co-sponsored by the two departments and ongoing sharing of leading practices to ensure excellence in teamwork and handoff through the care delivery process of this special group of patients.

See more of: Poster Session I - Maternal Child Health Leadership Academy Invited Posters
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